Mark Hughes has been announced as the new manager of Fulham and signed a two year contract at Craven Cottage.
Hughes replaces Roy Hodgson, who departed for Liverpool and makes a return to the Premier League having been sacked by Manchester City in December 2009.
“I am joining on the back of two of the most successful seasons in the club’s history,” he told the official club website.
“I am confident that with some additions to the squad, hard work and commitment, we can move this club forward in the right direction”.
Some of those new additions could be from his former club and he may try to bring out-of-favour City players such as Craig Bellamy, Roque Santa Cruz and Stephen Ireland to West London.
Hughes has been successful in being able to bring his trusted backroom team to Fulham: Mark Bowen, Kevin Hitchcock and Eddie Niedzwiecki, who all worked with him at the City of Manchester Stadium.
However, the new arrivals could spell the end of Ray Lewington’s tenure as first team coach, having taken over as caretaker manager after Hodgson left for Anfield earlier in July.
Hughes began his managerial career in 1999 when he took charge of his home nation Wales. He almost qualified for Euro 2004 but suffered a narrow play-off defeat to Russia.
He joined Blackburn Rovers in 2004 and guided them to the semi-final of the FA Cup and earned a place in the Uefa Cup.
Hughes took over at Manchester City in 2008 but lasted just 18 months in the job following the club’s change of ownership and massive increase in expectation which saw him replaced by Italian manager Roberto Mancini.
Hughes will have more modest resources at Craven Cottage but he has inherited a decent side.
The Welshman’s first match in charge in the Premier League is at Bolton Wanderers on 14 August. The Cottagers will then host Hughes’ former club Manchester United on 22 August.
